Today’s Senate runoff seen as national tea party test

Millions of dollars have been spent and megawatts of conservative star power unleashed on the nationally watched U.S. Senate battle between Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and tea party-backed Ted Cruz.

Now it comes down to Texas voters to decide.

The Cruz-Dewhurst battle for the GOP nomination for Senate is the latest high-profile fight drawing national attention and featuring an establishment-backed Republican against an insurgent conservative.

The Texas race drew a strong national spotlight after establishment candidates lost to party insurgents in Nebraska and Indian.

Dewhurst, 66, came to the race with advantages including a large personal fortune built in the energy business, which he tapped for his campaign, and a name already well known to Texans.

Calling himself the most conservative-ever lieutenant governor, he has the backing of state officials including Gov. Rick Perry — who preceded him as lieutenant governor -– plus support from groups representing business, agriculture and other interests. He also is backed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Cruz, 41, offers a life story rooted in his father’s flight to freedom to the United States from the Batista regime in Cuba and a record as state solicitor general of handling cases on issues dear to conservatives’ hearts.

Cruz has never held elected office, but he has campaigned relentlessly across Texas to court grassroots groups and has captured the imagination and backing of national movement conservative groups and personalities. His backers range from the Club for Growth to FreedomWorks and from Sarah Palin to Rick Santorum to archconservative U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina. Supporters at home include former state GOP chairman George Strake and George P. Bush, the politically involved nephew and grandson of the former presidents.

Dewhurst finished first in the May primary but didn’t get the required majority for the nomination.

The importance of the race could be counted in the numbers alone. It was the most expensive non-presidential race this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

The two men’s campaigns and outside groups poured a combined $46.3 million into the race, as tallied by the center.

Dewhurst lent his campaign $24.5 million and paid himself back $5.1 million. Cruz put about $1.4 million personally into his race.

A Cruz victory would add another voice to the Senate cadre led by DeMint working to move the GOP agenda further to the right.

Dewhurst, by contrast, is described as a more pragmatic conservative who would find a natural fit working with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.

A Dewhurst win also would trigger a race for lieutenant governor if he is elected in November and then resigns.

State senators would choose among themselves for a successor as acting lieutenant governor until the next election. The 2014 election for the seat has already drawn interest from Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. Comptroller Susan Combs also is considered a prospect.

Democrats Paul Sadler and Grady Yarbrough also are fighting in Tuesday’s runoff for their party’s nomination for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is not seeking re-election.

The GOP runoff, however, is expected to be the decisive matchup because Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994.